SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH RELOAD ASSEMBLY HAVING A LOCKOUT
A reload assembly of a surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly, a drive assembly that is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, and a lockout assembly including a lock member and a biasing member that prevents readvancement of the drive assembly. The lock member and the biasing member of the lockout assembly are configured to be securely fastened to each other using different structures and methods of securement.
This disclosure is directed to stapling devices and, more particularly, to a reload assembly having a lockout for use with a stapling device.
BACKGROUNDSurgical stapling devices for performing surgical procedures endoscopically are well known and are commonly used to reduce patient trauma and shorten patient recovery times. Typically, an endoscopic stapling device includes a handle assembly, an elongate body that extends distally from the handle assembly, and a tool assembly that is supported on a distal portion of the elongate body. In order to reduce costs, the tool assembly is sometimes included as part of a reload assembly that can be removed from the elongate body and replaced to facilitate reuse of the handle assembly and the elongate body.
Typically, reload assemblies include a drive member that is releasably coupled to a control rod included in the elongate body when the reload assembly is coupled to the elongate body. The drive assembly includes a distal portion that is coupled to a clamp member that supports a knife blade and is positioned within the tool assembly such that movement of the drive assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position advances the clamp member through the tool assembly to eject staples from the tool assembly and cut tissue. The reload assembly may include a lockout to prevent readvancement of the drive assembly after the reload assembly has already been fired.
In reload assemblies having lockouts, the lockout may include a lock member that is urged towards the locked position by a biasing member. In some instances, the biasing member includes a flat spring that is welded to the lock member in cantilevered fashion. In cases where the weld does not hold, the lockout may not function properly.
A continuing need exists in the medical arts for a lockout for a reload assembly that includes a biasing member that can be more securely fastened to the lock member.
SUMMARYAspects of the disclosure are directed to a reload assembly including a lockout assembly having a lock member and a biasing member that are securely fastened to each other. Other aspects of this disclosure are directed to methods for securely fastening a biasing member of a lockout assembly to a lock member of the lockout assembly.
One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a reload assembly including a body portion, a tool assembly, a drive assembly, and a lockout assembly. The body portion has a distal body portion and a proximal body portion and defines a channel that extends through the proximal and distal body portions. The tool assembly is supported on the distal body portion and includes an anvil and a cartridge assembly. The drive assembly is supported within the channel of the body portion and includes a drive member and a lockout shield. The drive member defines a stop surface and is movable from a prefired retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, and movable from the advanced position to a post fired retracted position. The lockout shield is positioned about the drive member and is movable from a first position located about the stop surface to a second position exposing the stop surface. The lockout assembly includes a lock member and a biasing member. The lock member is movable from a first position aligned with the stop surface to a second position misaligned with the stop surface. The biasing member is positioned to urge the lock member towards the first position and the lockout shield is positioned to retain the lock member in the second position. The lock member includes a crimp able member to crimp the biasing member to the lock member.
In aspects of the disclosure, the lockout shield includes a lance that is secured to a body of the lockout shield in cantilevered fashion and two resilient arms that engage the drive member to releasably couple the lockout shield to the drive member when the lockout shield is in first position.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the lance extends outwardly from the body of the lockout shield, and movement of the drive member from the prefired retracted position to the post fired retracted position moves the lockout shield from its first position to its second position.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the proximal body portion is coupled to the distal body portion and includes an abutment member that extends into the channel, and the lance of the lockout shield moves from a position proximal of the abutment member to a position distal of the abutment member when the drive member is moved from the prefired retracted position to the advanced position.
In aspects of the disclosure, the lance engages the abutment member when the drive member is moved from the advanced position towards the post fired retracted position to move the lockout shield from its first position to its second position.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the drive assembly includes a drive block that is secured to the drive member, and the drive block is adapted to releasably engage a control rod of a stapling device.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the lock member includes a leaf spring.
In aspects of the disclosure, the crimp able member includes a tab and the leaf spring defines an opening, and the tab is received within the opening and crimped onto the leaf spring to secure the leaf spring to the to the lock member.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the tab includes two tabs.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the lock member defines a through bore and the leaf spring includes flange that defines an opening.
In aspects of the disclosure, the crimp able member includes a rivet that extends through the opening in the flange and through the through bore and is crimped to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the leaf spring defines an opening and the crimp able member includes a post supported on the lock member, and the post is received within the opening and crimped to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
In certain aspects of the disclosure, the post is integrally formed with the lock member.
In aspects of the disclosure, the lock member includes pivot members and is pivotally connected to the proximal body portion.
In some aspects of the disclosure, one end of the lock member defines a concavity and the proximal body portion includes a finger that is received within the concavity.
Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a lockout assembly that includes a lock member, a leaf spring defining an opening, and a crimp able member that is positioned within the opening of the leaf spring and engaged with the lock member. The crimp able member is crimped to secure the biasing member to the lock member.
Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a method of fastening a leaf spring to a lock member of a lockout assembly including inserting a crimp able member that extends from the lock member through an opening defined in one end of the leaf spring, and crimping the crimp able member to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
Other aspects of the disclosure will be appreciated from the following description.
Various exemplary aspects of the disclosure are described herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
The disclosed surgical stapling device will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it is to be understood that the aspects of the disclosure described herein are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
In this description, the term “proximal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is closer to a clinician, while the term “distal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device that is farther from the clinician. In addition, the term “clinician” is used generally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, and support personnel.
Aspects of this disclosure are directed to a reload assembly of a surgical stapling device that includes a tool assembly, a drive assembly that is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, and a lockout assembly including a lock member and a biasing member that prevents readvancement of the drive assembly. More particularly, aspects of this disclosure are directed to a lockout assembly in which the biasing member is securely fastened to the lock member and to methods for securely fastening the biasing member to the lock member of the lockout assembly.
The handle assembly 12 includes a body 24 that defines a hand grip 24a and supports actuation buttons 26 that are positioned adjacent the hand grip 24. The actuation buttons 26 are depressible to control operation of the various functions of the stapling device 10 including approximation, firing, and cutting. In aspects of the disclosure, the handle assembly 12 also supports a rotation knob 30 that rotatably couples the elongate body 14 to the handle assembly to facilitate rotation of the elongate body 14 about the longitudinal axis “X” in relation to the handle assembly 12. Although the stapling device 10 is illustrated as an electrically powered stapling device, it is envisioned that aspects of this disclosure are also suitable for use with robotically controlled stapling devices and manually powered stapling devices. U.S. Pat. No. 9,055,943 (“the '943 Patent”) discloses a surgical stapling device including an electrically powered handle assembly and U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,139 (“the '139 Patent”) discloses a manually actuated handle assembly.
The distal body portion 22 of the reload assembly 18 includes a proximal portion 22a that is coupled to the proximal body portion 20 of the reload assembly 18. In aspects of the disclosure, the proximal portion 22a of the distal body portion 22 includes an annular flange 38 (
In aspects of the disclosure, the proximal body portion 20 of the reload assembly 18 includes first and second half-sections 20a and 20b (
The lockout shield 58 is movably positioned about the drive member 56 from a first position covering the stop surface 66 (
The lockout assembly 60 is secured to the proximal body portion 20 of the reload assembly 18 and is movable between a locked position aligned with the stop surface 66 of the drive member 56 to an unlocked position misaligned with the stop surface 66 of the drive member 56. The lockout assembly 60 includes a lock member 76 and a biasing member 78 that is positioned to urge the lock member 76 towards the locked position.
The drive assembly 53 is movable between a retracted position and an advanced position within the channel 52 defined by the proximal body portion 20 and a channel 80 (
When the stapling device 10 (
When the lockout shield 58 moves to its advanced position, the lances 70 engage the abutment members 48 and are deformed inwardly and pass distally beyond the abutment members 48. When the lances 70 pass distally beyond the abutment members 48, the lances 70 return to their undeformed conditions in which the lances 70 extend outward of and are aligned with the abutment members 48.
The body 82 of the lock member 76 includes one or more tabs 92 that extend radially outward from the body 82 when the body 82 is pivotally secured to the proximal body portion 20. In aspects of the disclosure, the biasing member 78 is a leaf spring which stamped from a resilient material such as steel. The leaf spring 78 includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion of the leaf spring 78 defines an opening 96 that receives the one or more tabs 92 during manufacturing. After the tabs 92 are received within the opening 96, the tabs 92 are crimped (
Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary aspects of the disclosure. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the disclosure based on the above-described aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A reload assembly comprising:
- a body portion having a distal body portion and a proximal body portion, the body portion defining a channel that extends through the proximal and distal body portions;
- a tool assembly supported on the distal body portion, the tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge assembly;
- a drive assembly supported within the channel of the body portion, the drive assembly including a drive member and a lockout shield, the drive member defining a stop surface and movable from a prefired retracted position to an advanced position to actuate the tool assembly, and movable from the advanced position to a post fired retracted position, the lockout shield positioned about the drive member and movable from a first position located about the stop surface to a second position exposing the stop surface; and
- a lockout assembly including a lock member and a biasing member, the lock member movable from a first position aligned with the stop surface to a second position misaligned with the stop surface, the biasing member positioned to urge the lock member towards the first position and the lockout shield retaining the lock member in the second position, wherein the lock member includes a crimp able member to crimp the biasing member to the lock member.
2. The reload assembly of claim 1, wherein the lockout shield includes a lance that is secured to a body of the lockout shield in cantilevered fashion and two resilient arms, the two resilient arms engaging the drive member to releasably couple the lockout shield to the drive member when the lockout shield is in first position, the lance extending outwardly from the body of the lockout shield, wherein movement of the drive member from the prefired retracted position to the post fired retracted position moves the lockout shield from its first position to its second position.
3. The reload assembly of claim 2, wherein the proximal body portion is coupled to the distal body portion and includes an abutment member that extends into the channel, the lance of the lockout shield moving from a position proximal of the abutment member to a position distal of the abutment member when the drive member is moved from the prefired retracted position to the advanced position, the lance engaging the abutment member when the drive member is moved from the advanced position towards the post fired retracted position to move the lockout shield from its first position to its second position.
4. The reload assembly of claim 3, wherein the drive assembly includes a drive block secured to the drive member, the drive block adapted to releasably engage a control rod of a stapling device.
5. The reload assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock member includes a leaf spring.
6. The reload assembly of claim 5, wherein the crimp able member includes a tab and the leaf spring defines an opening, the tab received within the opening and crimped onto the leaf spring to secure the leaf spring to the to the lock member.
7. The reload assembly of claim 6, wherein the tab includes two tabs.
8. The reload assembly of claim 5, wherein the lock member defines a through bore and the leaf spring includes flange defining an opening, the crimp able member including a rivet that extends through the opening in the flange and through the through bore and is crimped to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
9. The reload assembly of claim 5, wherein the leaf spring defines an opening and the crimp able member includes a post supported on the lock member, the post being received within the opening and crimped to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
10. The reload assembly of claim 9, wherein the post is integrally formed with the lock member.
11. The reload assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock member includes pivot members and is pivotally connected to the proximal body portion.
12. The reload assembly of claim 11, wherein one end of the lock member defines a concavity and the proximal body portion includes a finger that is received within the concavity.
13. A lockout assembly comprising:
- a lock member;
- a leaf spring defining an opening; and
- a crimp able member positioned within the opening of the leaf spring and engaged with the lock member, the crimp able member being crimped to secure the biasing member to the lock member.
14. The lockout assembly of claim 13, wherein the crimp able member includes a tab supported on the lock member, the tab received within the opening and crimped onto the leaf spring to secure the leaf spring to the to the lock member.
15. The lockout assembly of claim 14, wherein the tab includes first and second tabs.
16. The lockout assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock member defines a through bore and the leaf spring includes flange that defines the opening, the crimp able member including a rivet that extends through the opening in the flange and through the through bore and is crimped to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
17. The lockout assembly of claim 13, wherein the crimp able member includes a post supported on the lock member, the post being received within the opening and crimped to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
18. The lockout assembly of claim 17, wherein the post is integrally formed with the lock member.
19. The lockout assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock member is pivotally connected to the proximal body portion, the lock member defining a concavity and the proximal body portion including a finger that is received within the concavity.
20. A method of fastening a leaf spring to a lock member of a lockout assembly, the method comprising:
- inserting a crimp able member that extends from the lock member through an opening defined in one end of the leaf spring; and
- crimping the crimp able member to secure the leaf spring to the lock member.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2020
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2022
Inventors: Jacob C. Baril (Norwalk, CT), Kenneth H. Whitfield (North Haven, CT), Zalika Walcott (Hamden, CT)
Application Number: 16/994,785